Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-09-02
HUNTING osTR,cHEs.
Mesno<is Empsnyed BY tks ..gss,s eT I
Desert to Catch the Huge Birds.


Nesnods Empsnyed BY tks t.sss,s sT sn'
Desert to Catch the Huge Birds.
With the Ahrabs OF the desert tn,
chase and capture Of the ostrich is th,
most attractive and aristocratic of ths
many diversions il which they indulge
The first thing attended to when hunt
Is contemplated is the preparation Of
the horses. They are entirely deprived
Of grass and fed on barley for seven OF
eight days before the intended hunt.
They are allowed TO drink only once a
day. and that at sunset; at that time
they are also washed. They take long
exercises. and great attention is paid to
the arrangement Of the harness. The
Arab says that after seven or eight days
the stomach disappears, while the chest
the breast and Group remain in flesh
The animal IL then in condition to en-
dure fatigue. This training 10 called
.'teehaha-" The harness used in this
hunting il much lighter than that in or
binary use. especially the saddle and
tho stirrupA and tho martingale Is dis
psnsed With The bride also under
goes many changes. the mountings and
earlAps being taken away, rs they are
considered too heavy The bit and
frontlet are made Of rope, without
throatband. and the reins. though very
strong. are extremely light
The time most favorable for ostrich
hunting is when there Is the greatest
heat The higher the temperature the
less Ii the ostrich able 10 defend itself
The Arab SAYS that when = man stands
upright and his shadow is only the
leaeth Of his foot is the exact time b.
hunt. Each horscman Is accompanied
by 1 servant called ..xemmal." He i
mounted on = camel carrying four goa,
skins tillcd with water, and barley fol
the horse, wheat flonr for the rider.
some dates, kettle In which 10 cook
the food. and every thing which can
possibly be required for the repairing
Of the harness in case OF accident. The
horsemsn wears 4 linen vest and
truusers and covers his neck and ears
xrs,h . ,;cht rn.,e,;al cal,aa ..hav,l; !,
,..a,,h = ia -, La
=. 49, 4 - : =" : ,"'p :. 49,. $3.50,
a.is iecs ~ pro1ecteu Win sAaua's' anu
nus iegs cy hgnt CATERS called IRA
BAG. lie has neither gun nor pistol,
his only weapon being wild olive or
tamarind stick. five or six feet long.
with 4 heavy knot at one end.
Rssor. s,srt;nc ag "a h,n,.s 49,
49,, - 49,
- - r ~ = os.lsn -,
Atc W pe iounu. Ahey are Brneraiiy
met Win IN the places where there Is a
great deal OF grass, and rain has re-
Gently fallen. The hunters commence
their jt,urues early In the moruiup
After one or two dsvs, travelling when
they Hay. arrived near ths a.s;raa s,,o,
III 49,, - ~. -. So -, ~ ~.
49, $50 - a"'e
.''e, na'' anu lamp Ai'er seu''hg. TWO
'nteAiigsnt slaves are sent out % recon-
noitre- They carry goat skin at their
side and little bread. They walk on
until they find the ostriches, which are
generally on elevated places. As soon
as the game is In view one lies down IN
watch and the other returns to convey
the information 10 the camp. The birds
are found in troops. consisting often Of
az many A. sixty. The horsemen. puided
by the scout. travel cautiously toward
the game. The nearer they annroach
the spo, the greater a their caution ana
when they reach the last ridge which
hides them from the ostriehes they dis
mount and creep forward 10 ascertain
whether the birds are sin there. II such
Is the case. a moderate quantity of water
"a given 10 the horses. and each man
mounts again and proceeds. The sery.
ants and camels fellow a little distance
behind. carrying with them corn ana
water.
The horsemen divide and form 8
circle around the ostriehes al such y
distance as not 10 be noticed nv tbam
The servants halt when the borsener
separate, and as soon al they see their
masters In position. they walk below
sheir prey. The ostriches fiee. but are
met BY the hunters, who al first only
drive them back into the circle. They
are made to ran around the ring and
In this way their strength Is exhausted
AT the first sign Of fatigue In the birds
the horses dash Ia. and the noek sena.
rates. The affrighted birds open their
wings. which is a sign of great ex-
haustion, and the hunter. now feeling
snre Of his prey. selects his bird and
runs 1t down. and finishes il with A
blow on the head with the olive stick.
The moment the bird falls the man
quickly dismounts aud cuts its throat
taking care 10 holi the head AT some
distance from the body. so as NOT IN
soil the plumage. Ii Il said IN. male
bird utters loud means while divine I'm,
The female dies in silence WHEN ,be